Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-06
LOVE IN A FOG.
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a." hem Of her embroidered apron.
She dared not go into Francescas
,,om. for the child she had rocked IN
bor bosom turned from her with signs
and means
Go away, Nunziatina; leave me IN
peacc- always in peace.
She dared not go down stairs where
Tho old master was closeted with the
siepor Dottore, for the Professors was
no, like himself this morning. Hewas
Esinrbed and bewildercd and was i'm
,aHent Of Annunziata's lamentations.
WV had the malign Englishman ever
come 10 trouble this peaceful home on
tbc Iieva? Those cold English, cruel
aud lev as their chill, foggy land All
Iod been going smoothly for the dear
eignor Antonio till the mdiedetto III
yrqicsc turned the head Of our little
Francesca
" Anne, aime, Annunzista moaned
and wcpi, and plated her apron. Her
heart was very full, for she loved the
S;gnor Antonio like q son. Then she
saw The Signor Professore coming up
,he stars with the Signor Dottorc, and
She cnrtsicd and wiped her eyes.
"Wcn. Annunziata, how are we get
ting on ?" inquired the Dottore cheeri-
"Ah. Signor Dottore, il is a sad day
for this house." sighed the nurse.
No. no, Annunziata, my friend. A
iriGe. n trihe You are all making too
much Of n girlish caprice"
Aununziata, softly opened door and
peopcl into Francesca's room. She
Shook her head sadly and then threw
The door open, saying, Enter, Sig
nom"
The room was almost dark. A heavy
,ed damask curtain was drawn across
,lc principal window. and Francesca
lax IN couch in n Swallowed corner
With her head buried in the red velvet
cushions. The thick masses of her
Hack hair stood out in relief against
the rich crimson of the pillows. Her
lace Was hidden. she never stirred as
her father and the doctor went into the
room.
The poor old Professore was dazed
or1 ruzzled He knew more Of ma
r,e biology than Of women. A great
disturbance was wrought in him by this
dj,.racting behavior on the part of his
little Cosca. He had not the smallest
idea what 10 do. Francesca's strange
affection for his distinguished English
student amazed him. The milordo was
an imrassioned pupil. Science was his
mistress He had never another
thought. Blind Professore
Tie PrOfessOre crossed the room with |
hurried. uncertain step, and put his
haud iimidly on Francesca's shoulder.
''' Cesca. my little one, look up.
Ferf is the Signor Dottore." Frqnces-
20 lifted lifted her head. There was a
faint. dusky glow on her olive checks.
Her great dark eyes were dry, but deep
and luminous with emotion. She |
c,a.ped her fathers hand between her
tvolitt'c hot palms.
"Pahbo. il mic Babbo," she cried. |
81 It me die. care no more TO live.
wish to sleep in the grave. Oh yes,
a. deep forever, forever with my mo-
f,r." The Professore turned pale to |
thc roots of his white hair. But the
poitore. with an important manner,
took Francesca's hand in his and felt |
fer the pulse at her wrist. Francesca
drew her hand away and buriedit under
the cushions
"Go away, Signor Dottore go, go,
! do not want YOU. | wish to die and
go 20 my mother. How miserable |
am. What torment !! "
The ProfessOre looked anxiously at |
tic pottore. The Signor DottOre, who /
flt the unrnffled calm Of profound |
wisdom, screwed up his eyes and |
tankled sagaciously at the troubled |
frofcssore as much as to say "He, he, |
l.arned Profe5sore, / know thing or /
two beyond you. With all your deep |
r,.carches YOU are now cropping in thick |
darkness. Stand aside, good Professore, |
and admire the wealth OF my knowledge |
q human nature. The heart of woman /
!, IN open book to me-" So, with
hiherly and jocose air, the Dottore
drew "A chair near Francesca's couch.
"Su. su, Francesca, what is the mat |
i.r now? What poor fellow have You
saiu with your dark eyes? All, little |
LADY,. / hear terrible stories of your
uu,ltv." and the foolish old Dottore |
Struggled TO get hold of Francesca's |
wrist.
"Babho," pleaded Francesca, with
ptcous shiver Of disgust as she hid her
SIT deeper in the pillows. The Pro-
Z ssore moved uneasiiy
Gone, come, Francesca" babbled
ihc Tottore, "give your devoted ad-
miT,r that little wrist. The youth of
Siapeute will mob old Caporali if he
doesn't quickly cure the beautiful
Francesca 4 touch of fever Profess
s.ir. nothing, nothing. A composing
drupht and our francesca will be as
dangerous as ever.
francesca turned round and raised
herself in a sitting position " Go
away, Nimor Dottore. hate you. Go
away labbo," she said. 81 implore
Won 10 l,t Iae alone Babbo, dear Bah
bo. please 60 away. Leave me in peace,
81 I'acc."
2 he miserable protesSore trembled,
and something If the immense suffer-
ie in the girls eyes penetrated the
dnse covering that shrouded Dottore
Cporalis soul. Francesca buried her
s once more IN the cushions. The
'ao old men looked helpessly at one
mother and then went feebly away.
The window curtains were now drawn
iark n Fraucesca's room. Her doves
few on to tie sill and she put out her
hands to them, full OF grain, aud they
settled on her shoulders and circled
about her head, cooling softly. Every
thing was changed And vet through
the trees She could see Antonio slowly
pacing up and down, with his arms
crossed on lis chest and his head bent,
and Giuseppe, the gardener, at his
work Ali the sweet familiar things
gazcd roproachfully at her with blank,
eth faces from which the kind smile OF
love had faded With a movement OF
impotence she turned from the open
window. Anger and pain were mingled
N her heart, and through all pierced
deep perception Of injustice.
She could not go out into the cruel
Glare haunted 10y thattiresome Antonio.
D., She hated her room it was alive
With thousand painful memories. On
Tie table lay the English books given
her by the Milordo Edoardo. The
Pretty little edition of Tennysons
POEMS and one or two stories that he